Earthquake in Morocco: how to provide support to the affected populations?

On the night between Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September 2023, a magnitude 7 earthquake hit Morocco, causing more than 2,000 deaths and extensive material damage in the municipalities of Al Haouz, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant. The earthquake, which recorded several aftershocks, was felt mainly in Casablanca.

Since then the requests for donations and solidarity have multiplied. How can you help and which organizations can you trust? Here are some ways to provide support from France.

French charities

• The Foundation of France. On Saturday it launched a website dedicated to helping Moroccan people affected by the earthquake. As their website specifies, the Foundation will rely on “ on local associations that have already proven themselves and are active alongside the populations affected by the earthquake. We will monitor and control supported projects on the ground, as we do during each of the disasters in which we mobilize.”.
• The French Red Cross. The French Red Cross is asking for donations to help with local relief efforts and the supply of basic necessities. You can also send checks to the address: French Red Cross – Morocco Earthquake – 75678 Paris Cedex 14.
• French popular relief. The organization allocates 50,000 euros from his emergency fund “to help children and families who have lost everything (shelter, food aid, hygiene and care kits, etc.)”. Financial donations can be sent via the dedicated website or by post to the departmental branches of the Secours populaire français.
• Unicef. You can make a donation through the UNESCO emergency fund, which is committed to supporting the Moroccan government in responding to the immediate needs of children and their families.
• Treatment. As remembered Franceinfothe NGO Care has designed a donation platform dedicated to the emergency in Morocco. “Field assistance teams are working to provide water, food and emergency medical assistance to survivors » specifies the organization.

Municipalities and local associations are mobilizing

If the exact needs are not yet known and it is still time to evaluate, municipalities and local authorities are taking action now.

As told Franceinfo“ There are those who prepare collections, like Rueil-Malmaison (Hauts-de-Seine), the city mayor announced on Monday on Twitter. In Beauvais (Oise), a collection box will be accessible from Monday in the premises of the municipal social action centre, reports Oise Hebdo “.

In Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle), the town hall has been transformed into a collection centre, the town hall website states. “ Those who wish can bring clothing, hygiene products, non-perishable foods and baby supplies », abounds Franceinfo.

Western France also emphasizes that “ the association of Moroccans of Loire-Atlantique (AMEL) also plans to launch an online fundraiser to help the victims of the earthquake ” while the Latest news from Alsace informs that the Union of Moroccan Associations of Alsace-Lorraine has launched a collection of medicines in the Obernai sector (Bas-Rhin).

The list of associations and communities involved is long, so don’t hesitate to consult the websites of the municipalities in your region to find out where and how to provide support near you.

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